On March 25, 2025, Egerton University welcomed a high-profile delegation from Taita Taveta University (TTU) for a benchmarking tour aimed at fostering research collaboration and academic excellence. The visiting team, led by TTU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic, Research & Outreach), Prof. Christine Onyango, was accompanied by county officials from Taita Taveta, including the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation, Cooperative Development & the Blue Economy, Mr. Danson Mzenge, and his Chief County Officer, Mr. Mcharo Mwalugha. Officials from the Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), led by Philemon Moseti, were also part of the delegation.
The team was received at Egerton University’s Main Campus in Njoro, where they paid a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor. Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration, Finance & Planning), Prof. Richard Mulwa, led discussions focusing on strengthening institutional partnerships and leveraging research outputs for community impact. He was flanked by the Registrar Academic Affairs Prof. Mwanarusi Saidi, the Director, Research & Extension Prof. George Owuor, the University Librarian Ms Janegrace Kinyanjui and the Director, Marketing and Resource Mobilization Prof. Nzula Kitaka.
A key discussion point during the visit was the banana value chain, an area where TTU, in partnership with Taita Taveta County and MESPT, has been actively engaged. As Kenya’s third-largest banana producer and the Coast region’s breadbasket, Taita Taveta County requires robust support systems to enhance banana production and quality. To meet this need, TTU has been working to upgrade its tissue culture laboratory, established in 2015, aiming to improve banana seedling propagation, commercialization, and sustainability. Prof. Mulwa highlighted Egerton University’s expertise in commercializing research innovations, citing the success of the Chelalang bean seeds and the technical support provided to 13 counties through its Crop Molecular Laboratoty
Part of Egerton University’s management team, including University Librarian Ms. Janegrace Kinyanjui, Director of Research & Extension Prof. George Owuor,Registrar Academic Affairs Prof. Mwanarusi Saidi, and Director of Marketing and Resource Mobilization Prof. Nzula Kitaka.
Prof. Mulwa also shared insights into Egerton University’s Income-Generating Units (IGUs) under the Directorate of Income-Generating Units, emphasizing the university’s commitment to financial sustainability through research commercialization. Additionally, he outlined Egerton’s extensive collaborations with both local and international institutions in research, capacity building, and staff and student exchange programs.
Prof. Onyango lauded Egerton University’s ability to produce graduates equipped with practical skills, attributing this to the university’s state-of-the-art facilities and hands-on training approach. Mr. Mzenge, the Taita Taveta CECM for Agriculture, echoed similar sentiments, noting that universities are making significant strides in community engagement through collaborations with county governments and organizations. He emphasized that research is now directly benefiting farmers, demonstrating the tangible impact of academic research on livelihoods.
Following the courtesy call, Egerton University researchers made presentations and tours on various projects focusing on food safety, value addition, and income generation. The Agroscience Park and Innovation Centre, led by Prof. Paul Kimurto, was showcased as a hub for research commercialization. Other were the Egerton Living Lab by Dr Bernard Karanja, the Safe Foods Reference Laboratory by Prof. Charles Mulekhe, the Crop Molecular Laboratory by Prof. Richard Mulwa, the Food Science Laboratory by Prof. Mary Omwamba, and the Seed Potato Unit by Prof. Anthony Kibe. These sessions, coordinated by Egerton University’s Director of Research, Prof. Owuor, provided the TTU team with valuable insights into how research can be translated into practical solutions for industry and society.
The visit also explored the possibility of formalizing collaborations between Egerton University, TTU, and Taita Taveta County through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement, once established, will serve as a framework for joint research initiatives, capacity-building programs, and knowledge exchange.
The benchmarking tour concluded with a visit to the Egerton University’s Minimart, where a variety of university-produced goods are available to the public. This hands-on experience provided the TTU delegation with a deeper understanding of how Egerton integrates research, training, and commercialization to drive impact.
The benchmarking visit by Taita Taveta University underscores Egerton University’s leadership in research, innovation, and community engagement. Through strategic partnerships, Egerton continues to push the boundaries of academic excellence while ensuring that research solutions address real-world challenges. As discussions on collaboration advance, the proposed MoU is set to open new doors for impactful research and knowledge-sharing, further cementing Egerton University’s reputation as a center of excellence in higher education and innovation.
By Agnes Mwangi
Photos by Musa Kurian
